Winters in Traverse City, Mich., can be brutal, and Westwind Construction, a Grand Haven-based owner developer, contractor and operator, knew its proposed four-story apartment building would need a durable and sustainable exterior. They wanted an energy-efficient exterior wall system that was also attractive and easy to maintain. At first, they tried life-sized samples of a stenciled brick design for the exterior wall. That didn’t achieve the look they wanted.
“We envisioned a modern, contemporary design and wanted a versatile exterior appearance, using as many textures as possible to provide exterior character,” says Mark Oppenhuizen of Oppenhuizen Architects. “Energy code requirements were also a factor, so having continuous insulation on the entire exterior of the building made good sense.”